Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has compared Red Devils youngster Kobbie Mainoo to AC Milan great Clarence Seedorf.
The 18-year-old helped Erik ten Hag’s team defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-3 on Thursday by scoring the game’s winning goal in stoppage time.
Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund gave Manchester United a two-goal advantage in the first half that looked to put them out of reach. But in a thrilling second half, Mainoo’s goal in the 97th minute gave the game the crucial victory after it was knotted 3-3 in the 95th.
Ferdinand showered the England youth international with accolades after the match. In addition, he likened Mainoo’s style of play to that of Clarence Seedorf, a former midfielder for Ajax and AC Milan.
‘I’m not saying he’s of the same ability and he’s that player yet, but you give me the signs, this gives me the vibes of Clarence Seedorf,’ Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.
‘The way you can manoeuvre in tight situations, and the way he manipulates his ball, uses his body at times, but then shifts it and just just pops it through the legs of [Max] Kilman there. Beautiful.
‘Elusive at times as well. Just the control and the awareness to be able to pick his spot there. Some players see the headlights there, and the back pages, and think “I’m just gonna go for it”. He just caressed it.’
Mainoo was clearly overjoyed to have won all three points for his boyhood team in the most spectacular way possible after the game. He said:
“It’s a dream come true. It’s such a tough place to come, they’ve had a good home run here. We had to get the win. I’ve still not come down from it, I still feel like I’m dreaming to be honest.”
